Welcome back for the first episode of 2025!  This episode Shawna Spencer, Coral World Ocean Park, dives deeper into breaking down reinforcers and punishers.  This episode is full of examples and practical applications.  Shawna starts with a brief introduction to primary and secondary reinforcers before listing examples of common reinforcers and punishers.  The episode finishes with a discussion about how reinforcers can change over time and how to tell if something is no longer a reinforcer for an animal.  Stay tuned in for Shawna’s two doggone great “Training Tales”, one featuring dog training in German.  You can also learn more information about the 2025 ABMA annual conference by listening or visiting www.abma.org For questions or suggestions about the podcast email ⁠[email protected]⁠ and to contact Shawna email [email protected]⁠ Let's talk some training and banter about behavior! 

3:20 Introduction to Shawna Spencer 

13:10 Information about the 2025 ABMA Annual Conference in Galveston, Texas 

19:50 Definitions of Reinforcers and Punishers 

23:05 What can be a reinforcer or punisher 

25:10 Definition of Primary Reinforcers

25:45 Definition and application of Secondary Reinforcers

34:10 Examples of common reinforcers 

42:10 Examples of common punishers

52:35 If something is a reinforcer will it always be a reinforcer?  

57:40 How to tell if something is no longer a reinforcer?  

1:01:00 “Training Tales”